Europa League preview: Liverpool v Steaua Bucharest
An obvious need for fresh investment, a squad in transition, sceptical supporters and Steaua Bucharest visiting Anfield for a tie in Europe’s second-tier competition.
It was November 2003, and banners calling for the removal of Gérard Houllier were being dragged out of the Kop by stewards eager to avoid a riot. Such outspoken opinions were in the minority amongst the Liverpool faithful, but it was clear that all was not right amongst the club’s support.
In the event, Harry Kewell headed the only goal to give the Reds a 1-0 win over Steaua on the night, confirming a 2-1 aggregate success – Djimi Traore’s away goal in Bucharest really has to be seen to be believed – and while, seven years on, Roy Hodgson isn’t under anywhere near the amount of pressure that the new Aston Villa boss had to deal with towards the end of his reign, his need for a win tonight should be obvious.
A goalless draw at Birmingham City’s somewhat fortress St Andrew’s should never be considered a bad Premier League result, but the style and fashion of Liverpool’s play at the weekend didn’t really radiate confidence, at a time when they are in desperate need of it.
With so much off-field uncertainty going on around the club – you must know who the causes of that are by now – then perhaps it needs a fresh face to enter the fray, maybe to remind others of just how special a place that Liverpool is to play football.
“Of course, I am excited about playing at Anfield for the first time as a Liverpool player,” says Raul Meireles, who is about to get his first taste of a European night at Anfield since a trip with former club Porto three years ago.
“We lost 4-1, but I remember the supporters were great. Everybody in Portugal says the Liverpool fans are the best supporters in England. I have also played at Chelsea and Manchester United, but I can say the Liverpool fans are the best.”
So far, so diplomatic, but Meireles – an £11.5million arrival from Porto last month – clearly needed to think long and hard about leaving his home town in the summer. Despite the uncertainty engulfing his new surroundings, he’s sure he made the right choice.
“Like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, I had only played in my city, for Boavista and Porto,” he continues, “but now it is a new adventure for me and I am happy and excited.
“I like the city. I've found a house for myself, my wife and my daughter, and the city centre is beautiful. It reminds me of my town, Porto. People like music here, which I also enjoy and I like the Beatles. I think I am going to be happy in this city.”
The long and winding road to Europa League progress continues at Anfield tonight, and after starting their campaign back in July with a win over FK Rabotnicki, followed by last month’s hard-fought victory against Trabzonspor, the Reds face a tough task in Steaua, the 1986 European champions.
Although obviously not at their 1980s heights these days, the Romanians are coached by the former Tottenham and West Ham player Ilie Dumitrescu – one of the stars of Romania’s 1994 World Cup campaign.
In his 14th different coaching position in just nine years – and that includes a three year break – the signs are that Dumitrescu hasn’t quite transferred his playing skills to the dugout just yet, but Steaua should prove a tough nut for Liverpool to crack. In a group that also contains Napoli and Utrecht, a win looks essential with tougher tasks ahead.
Hodgson will give Meireles a first start after he came off the bench at Birmingham, while Joe Cole will also return. The likes of Ryan Babel, Dani Pacheco and Martin Kelly could all feature after the veteran boss confirmed his desire to make changes to his line-up ahead of the weekend trip to Manchester United. Gerrard and Paul Konchesky are both available despite injuries at the weekend.
It has been an eventful seven years since Steaua were last on Merseyside.
Hodgson, Meireles and the Anfield crowd will be out to ensure that they leave with exactly what they got back in 2003.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 Steaua Bucharest 0
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